martial art

noun

: any of several arts of combat and self-defense (such as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sport
martial artist noun

Examples of martial art in a Sentence

He was trained in the martial arts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did Daniel Penny, who had a green belt in Marine Corps martial arts, go too far? Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024 Tai Chi Tai chi is a popular form of somatic exercise that originated in China as a martial art and has been around for centuries. Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 9 Dec. 2024 The project, which showcases the traditional silat martial art style known as pamacan, aims to bring Indonesian cultural heritage to global audiences. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Dec. 2024 Turns out the church’s pastor is trained in martial arts and confronted the would-be thief. Nbc Bay Area Staff, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for martial art 

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of martial art was in 1904

Dictionary Entries Near martial art

Cite this Entry

“Martial art.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20art. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

martial art

noun
: any of several arts of combat and self-defense (as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as a sport
martial artist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on martial art

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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